Welsh Marine Engineers and Workboat Builders Mainstay Marine Solutions have won the contract for the build of a 12m replacement ferry for Argyll and Bute Council in Scotland.
The vessel will replace the current ferry which has served the Lismore Island population for over 32 years.
Stewart Graves, Managing Director commented “As the ferry will provide an essential service to and from Lismore, quality of build and reliability are essential. Mainstay are delighted to have won this on the back of their long-standing reputation for delivering vessels that meet those criteria. We look forward to the islanders enjoying excellent service from the ferry for many years to come”.
Designed by Keel Marine, the all-steel vessel has a complement for two crew members and twenty-three passengers.
With a cruising speed of 8 kts, the ferry will provide the c170 inhabitants who reside on the Island, with a passenger-only ‘lifeline’ ferry service to and from Port Appin to Lismore Island.
Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, Councillor Rory Colville, said: “Mainstay won the contract in the face of stiff competition from throughout the UK…we look forward to working with Mainstay over the coming months to deliver a brand new ferry that will future-proof this life-line service for Lismore residents for the next three decades”.
On completion of sea trials at Mainstay’s base at Pembroke Dock on the Milford Haven Waterway, the ferry will steam the 302 nautical miles north to delivery point on Loch Linnhe.
Mainstay has recently delivered three out of five 15m river barges for the Environment Agency and is completing the ‘main frame’ and ‘Power Take Off Unit’ for Bombora’s Wave Energy device as well as starting the fabrication of the cross beam for QED Naval SubHub Tidal energy platform.
